Get up and get down with flying bugs, burrowing worms and creepy crawlers! Campers will take a closer look at how these fascinating tiny creatures have adapted to their environment. From spiders to fireflies, beetles to butterflies; campers will collect, observe and make art to learn about their unique features, how they travel, what they eat and what essential role each plays in our world’s ecosystem.

21st Century & SEL Skill Focus: Creativity, Collaboration, Problem Solving. Learn more about other skills we build through The EDMO Method.

Sample Projects

Beetle Body Game

Campers learn insect anatomy as they work with a partner to put together a beetle, using simple shapes and a numbered die.

Campers work collaboratively while reinforcing number sense and concepts of models and representation.

Egg Carton Dragonfly

Campers use household objects to imagine and build their very own dragonfly.

Campers gain an introduction to the maker mindset and process as they experiment with given resources and build their unique creation.

Firefly Suncatcher

Campers light up as they create their own fireflies and learn about the alternative communications that occur in the animal world.

Campers explore bioluminescence and use fine motor skills and focused repetition through this activity.

Meet the Writer

Melina Hettiaratchi

Melina got her start with EDMO last summer as the Palo Alto EDMO JR Program Coordinator and PM Program Coordinator. This year, Melina has been hard at work on the new EDMO JR curriculum for 2017. Melina brings ten years of experience working with children ages two and up as a gymnastics coach, sleep-away camp counselor, after-school tutor and mentor. Melina is currently a J.D. candidate at UC Hastings, College of the Law and she is exploring family law and juvenile justice. Melina graduated in May of 2015 with a Bachelor of Science in Early Childhood Education from Mercer University’s Holistic Child program. She has a dual certification to teach general and special education in pre-school through fifth grade. She can’t wait for you and your campers to try out all the fun projects she has planned for our EDMO JR campers this summer!

Extend the Learning

In PM Extended Day (3:00-6:00PM): Campers will combine art and science as they continue to explore the insect world.

Locations

More Good Things to Know

Some kids thrive on routines and harmony. Others not so much. Good news! We’ve found the secret recipe that works for all EDMO campers!

Day/Time

Click Each Activity Below to Learn More

8:00-9:00AM

AM Program - Stories and Playtime

Need to get to work early? We understand. By 8AM our staff is already hard at work helping our campers make new friends, do arts & crafts projects, play games, and plan special activities.

8:50-9:00AM

Drop-Off

Be greeted by name or a high five by a professional staff member…dressed in a mermaid costume or a Viking hat. In a hurry? Pull up and we’ll open the door for you. In no rush? Park your car, come right in and shake your counselor’s fin.

9:00-9:40AM

Morning Circle

Morning circles include an intro to the day’s curriculum, songs, stories, and Kimochis! The Kimochis are a social-emotional teaching tool that help young people understand their own emotions, communicate their needs with others and build empathy for other people.

9:40-9:50AM

Break

EDMO JR campers morning break gives them a time to visit the bathroom, get some water and get the wiggles out before diving into their awesome projects for the day.

9:50-10:40AM

Enrichment 1

Our campers do their main learning of the day at our enrichment stations. They apply our morning discussions to hands-on learning and creating themed crafts.

10:40-11:00AM

Snack

Active minds lead to hungry bellies! Don’t forget to pack a healthy snack for your camper every morning…with no nuts of course! Remember: If you ordered a delicious lunch, you automatically receive a healthy morning snack!

11:00-11:45AM

Game Time

During this Early Childhood Education skill building time, we practice and reinforce skills that students will use in the classroom year round. We use games, songs and other activities to build knowledge of colors, numbers, shapes, language comprehension, emotional intelligence, and early literacy.

11:45AM-12:15PM

Lunch

Add a delicious lunch each day. It’s a snap! Just click/check the lunch box on your enrollment form and a quality lunch will be delivered to camp daily. Rather pack your own lunch? Please just do not bring any products that contain: cashews, almonds, brazil nuts, pine nuts, walnuts or heaven forbid, the “‘Mother of All Nut Allergies”—the peanut.

12:15-1:00PM

Story Time & Resting Quiet Time

After lunch and outdoor play, campers will have story time and get a chance to calm down, rest or take a nap. The lights are turned down, we play some quiet music and campers unwind before we start the next round of activities.

1:00-2:20PM

Enrichment 2

Our campers do their main learning of the day at our enrichment stations. They apply our morning discussions to hands-on learning and creating themed crafts.

2:20-2:45PM

Closing and Clean-up

EDMO JR campers will wrap up their day with songs, games or sharing as they transition to the end of the day.

2:45-3:00PM

Pick-Up

Pull up or walk up, whichever you fancy. Either way we’ll make a point to let you know something special about your child’s day. Look out for our daily email from the Camp Director detailing the activities at your camp location, along with a reminder to visit EDMO At Home to see what to look forward to tomorrow and suggested activities, books, websites, museum exhibitions, and more ways to keep the curiosity going.

3:15-6:00PM

PM Extended Day, PM Snack & Free Play

During our EDMO PM Program, campers are given time for snack and free play before continuing structured recreation and enrichment projects. Enrichment projects can follow the program theme of the week or include theatre, Lego engineering and Minecraft projects. Parents are welcome to pick up any time between 3:15-6:00PM…but no later please! Our staff needs to get home too.

EDMO JR–Campers must be at least 4 years of age by June 1 to enroll in camp. We also ask that campers be fully potty trained and used to attending a full day program.

EDMO—Campers are divided into entering K-1st graders and 2nd–4th graders, with each group’s activities based on their age level. The youngest campers must be at least 5 years of age by June 1 or entering Kindergarten in the fall.

EDMO PRO–Campers must be entering 5th grade through 8th grade in the fall.

Ratios: (Please note: there is no EDMO JR or PRO at our Spring Break camps)

Groups: Campers are grouped with kids within 1-2 years of their own age. Groups can range from 10-25 kids.

Buddy & Bestie Requests: Let us know if you’d like your child to be grouped with specific friends. We’ll do our best to honor those requests. However sometimes circumstances like large age differences, “frenemy” behavior or camper:staff ratios preclude us from being able to group kids together. We’ll let you know if that happens.

All Camp Times: In case your kids are in different age groups, don’t worry, they’ll still see each other. Every day we make time to hang out with our staff, camp friends and siblings during camp rallies, morning and afternoon breaks, lunch time, and some parts of outdoor recreation.

Safety:CPR/First Aid certified staff members are present on-site at all times, including field trips. Background checks are performed on all staff.

Camp Drop Off & Pick Up:

Arrive at Camp Late? Should you arrive after 9:10AM, please find a legal parking space, walk your child/children into camp and sign in with the Camp Director.

Want to Talk to a Staff Member? We’d love for you to come into camp? Please come early, find a legal parking space and look for the sign in table.

Picking Up Late? Please note if you are not enrolled in our PM Program, your account will be charged the “a la carte” rate of $15/hr for any portion of an hour.

Equipment: We use high-quality equipment and age-appropriate software to create digital works of art, sure to impress friends and family. Plus many of the skills kids build whelp unlock the hidden creative potential of your home computer!

Computers: Please note that in some of our technology programs feature group projects that require sharing computers. This helps kids develop 21st Century Skills like collaboration and results in more innovative projects–plus, it’s a heck of a lot more fun!

Behavior: We’ll work with you to develop an Action Plan if your child is having a hard time adjusting to camp. Unfortunately, if he or she repeatedly detracts from the camp experience of kids and staff or compromises the safety of others, we may ask you to pick your child up from camp.

Special Needs: If your child requires an aide at school, we ask that you please provide an aide for them at camp, complete this form and notify the Camp Director at your location prior to the week your child is attending camp. If you do not have access to an aide for your child, a Regional Center of California could be a good place to find the services your child requires. If you are struggling to find accommodations, we are more than happy to assist you.

Modified Activities: On rare occasions we may need to modify weekly activities due to weather, material availability, time constraints, or the kid who spilled the entire jar of cabbage juice for the project.

Camper Projects: Once summer arrives, campers will be able to access the digital projects they create at camp via EDMO At Home. Projects will be available by the Monday following the week they were at camp. Details on how to access your camper’s projects, and any programs which will need to be purchased or downloaded in order to open them, will be outlined on our website and in your welcome packet prior to the beginning of camp. Prefer using a USB? Feel free to bring one from home.

Camp Satisfaction:If you are unsatisfied with your child’s camp experience, please contact your Camp Director. Camp Directors will respond to verbal or written parental concerns within 24 hours and schedule an Action Plan meeting to improve your camp experience. If you are unable to reach the Camp Director, you may contact the Home Office. In the case a situation is not resolved, please complete our Money Back Guarantee Form after camp begins.

Maker Sessions: Have any unwanted recycling around the house? Feel free to bring any plastic containers, cardboard, empty ribbon spools, and more camp-safe items to camp to deposit in your location’s “EDMO Maker Bank”!

Nature (Park) Program Specifics:Groups:Campers are divided into two groups, K-1st graders and 2nd–4th graders with each group’s activities based on their age level. Our 5th-8th grade EDMO PRO campers are grouped together. Groups for campers are generally 10-25 kids.Field Trips: Campers in 2nd-4th Grade go on off site Field Trips as part of our Nature (Park) program. There is also an off site field trip during one week of camp at our SF-Bernal/Portola camp location. For our off site Field Trips We have chartered buses to comfortably and safely transport campers who are attending field trips from one place to another around the Bay. Most field trips return to the park by 2:30PM. If there is a field trip you do not wish your child to attend, we may have space for them to stay with the younger group. We suggest you confirm this with the home office at 415.282.6673 or 877.993.6673 in advance.We also have an on site Field Trip with special Guest Presenters during select week(s) at our Rocklin-Sierra College camp location.Inclement Weather: Although some of our locations have protected areas in case it’s cold or wet outside, we usually advise parents to pack sweatshirts for their children so that they are prepared when the temperature is cool. There are also protected areas at each of the different field trip locations that our older campers will be visiting.Park Location Safety Gear: Every Pre-K-4th grade camper receives a distinctive orange bandana with their name on it in our Nature (Park) program. It is MANDATORY that campers wear their orange bandanas so they are easily visible the entire camp day.

Every Day

The Vibe Game

Throughout the day, campers get a chance to earn special “EDMO Vibe Cards” that recognize actions that exemplify The EDMO Vibe. Visit our EDMO Vibe Game page to learn more about how we build 21st Century Life Skills in campers.

Daily Download

Parents receive a daily email from their Camp Director with updates about their camp location and links to EDMO at Home for details about what their child is doing today and tomorrow, as well as resources for fostering more curiosity at home.

Enjoy a break from making lunch. Our lunch providers deliver a hot or cold meal to camp. Visit your location page to learn more about the lunch and snacks available at your location.

Extended Day Program

Can’t drop off at 9:00AM or pick up at 3:00PM? No problem. We’ve got you covered from 8:00AM-6:00PM. Enroll in 2 or more camp weeks to get 40% Off our AM/PM Program. AM (8:00-9:00AM) and PM (3:00-6:00PM).

Monday – Friday

Marvelous Monday (Summer Only)

What could be more marvelous than starting a week at camp. Every Monday, parents receive a printed handout that includes a schedule for the week. Campers usually receive their camp t-shirt on Mondays as well.

EDMO JR parents (non-Park locations only), come to our Morning Greet and meet your child’s Camp Instructor and counselors! It’s time to mingle and meet staff, as well as see the campus and program classroom.

Tremendous Tuesday (and T-Shirt Challenge)

T-shirt challenges are designed to help campers rock the EDMO Vibe at home! If you complete the week’s challenge by end of day Thursday, campers earn a special “Plus Card” on Friday at camp. Check out the Resource Section to see a list of the summers T-Shirt Challenge themes!

K-1 parents (non-Park locations only), come to our Morning Greet and meet your child’s Camp Instructor and counselors! It’s time to mingle and meet staff, as well as see the campus and program classroom.

Wacky Wednesday

Kids love this special all-camp day. It could be Water Day, Color War Day or Game Day with scavenger hunts, capture the monkey and more! Our staff may know what’s in store but campers will just know it’s going to be filled with wacky fun! (NOTE: Our EDMO JR campers do not participate in Wacky Wednesday.)

2-4 parents (non-Park locations only), come to our Morning Greet and meet your child’s Camp Instructor and counselors! It’s time to mingle and meet staff, as well as see the campus and program classroom.

Thursday Dress Up Day

It’s not camp if you can’t dress a little weird…at least once a week! Each Thursday has a special dress up theme to get campers into the camp spirit and parents into that box of old Halloween costumes…one more time.

EDMO PRO parents (non-Park locations only), come to our Morning Greet and meet your child’s Camp Instructor and counselors! It’s time to mingle and meet staff, as well as see the campus and program classroom.

Thursday is also the day that parents receive a link to our Parent Survey.